Music-leaf turner.



S, B. THGMPSON. MUSIGv LEAP TURNER. I APPLICATION FILED 1m; a0, 1908.

91 9., 978, Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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former can easily UNITED STATES PATENT SAMUEL B. THOMPSON, OF RlJSS/AIOYI AJ, OlllO.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

' turner of that type in which the leaves to be turned are connected by means of clasps to swinging arms that are successively released by pedals or keys so located that the perand conveniently turn the leaves without stopping the playing.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to be comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and of durable and substantial design.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pluralityof swinging leaf-turning franjres or arms that are actuated by springs and are adapted to be independently released by key-operated triggers for permitting the leaves to be turned without perceptibly interfering with the playing.

lVith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claim appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus showing the leaf-turning elements in set position. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the leafturning elements or arms in different positions after being released to illustrate the details of construction more clearly. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33, Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the frame of the apparatus which may be of any approved construction and is composed, in the present instance, of a skeleton framework of horizontal bars 1 connected to end bars 2. This frame, which constitutes a rest for the music, may be mounted on a stand or may be placed on the music holder of a piano or organ. On the end bars 2 are clasps 3 for fastening the first and last leaves of the sheet Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1908.

Serial 133,837.

he music is held in a. dependupper end 5 which sheet music music to the frame, a place at the cor f ing finger tho. o c to the upper end of the (er-"X is slidably moun ted in eyes 6, t being opened and sli ped the linger 1 in the act of placing the music in position on the frame in.

The intermediate leaves of the music are attached by clasps 7 and 8 to swinging leafturning elements or arms 9 and 10 tl are disposed at such a point that the clasps ca grip the leaves adjacent the upper edges thereof. The arms 9 and 10 re att the upper ends of vertical shafts 1 journaled in openings in the up and two intermediate cross bars 1 of the ame A and each having a crank 13 to which is connected a spring 14. On the lower ends of the shafts are horizontal arms 15 and 16 that are engaged by triggers 17 and 18, respectively. These triggers are pivoted at 1.) to side flanges on a supporting plate 20 attached to the frame A at the right hand lower corner thereof, and each trigger has a notch 21 for receiving the extremity of the lower arm of each shaft. The triggers or catches 17 and 18 are held in normal position by springs 22 each connected at one end to a trigger and at the opposite end to a suitable part of the frame A. On the lower ends of the triggers are keys 23 whereby the player can conveniently depress the triggers independently so, as to permit a leaf of music to be turned.

In practice, the sheet music is applied to the apparatus by first securing the first and last sheets or leaves a and b to the frame by the clasps 3, after which the finger 4 is adjusted to engage between the second and third sheets 0 and d. The leaf (1 is next attached to the arm 9 by the clasps '7, while the arm is at the left. This arm, together with the leaf, is turned to the right to set position and during this movement, the free end of the arm 15 engages the inclined surface 24 of the catch or trigger 17, whereby the latter is depressed to permit the said arm to engage in the recess 21 of such trigger. The leaf 0 is next attached to the leaf-turning element 10 and the latter swung to the right and automatically set by means of its trigger 18 engaging the lower arm 16. Vfith the parts in this )osition, the music turner is set so that the net two pages can be played, and when the end of the second page is reached, the player depresses the key of trigger 18 so as to release the latter from the arm 16 for permitting the leaf-turning element 10 to be swung to the left by the contraction of the spring connected with the crank of the shaft 12. t will be noted that when the leaf-turning elements are swung to the right for setting the same, the springs 14 will be extended or placed under tension. When the end of the fourth page is reached, the player depresses the other key for releasing trigger 17, whereupon the third page is turned. In the present instance, only two leaf-turning elements are shown, but it is to be understood that any other desired number may be employed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I new consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what 1 claim is The combination of a frame consisting of spaced horizontal cross-bars connected at their ends by vertical bars, a plurality of vertically-disposed shafts mounted on certain of the horizontal bars, arms on the upper ends of the shafts, leaf-engaging clips loosely mounted on the said arms, cranks connected with the shafts, springs connected with the cranks and with the supporting structure, horizontally-disposed arms connected with the lower ends of the shafts and arranged one above another, a plate secured to the supporting structure adjacent the lower right hand corner, triggers pivoted at opposite edges of the plate and disposed one higher than another for engaging the lower arms respectively, said triggers extending rearwardly from their pivots, springs connected with the rear ends of the triggers and connected with the supporting structure for holding the forward ends of the triggers raised, said triggers having notches for receiving the lower arms and each beveled in front of the notches for readily guiding the arms into the latter, and a key connected with each. trigger for depressing the same when releasing one of the lower arms to turn a leaf of the music.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL B. THOMPSON.

-Witnesses: W

Oscar: "r. KUHN, lllARY A. MANN. 

